Engine



A. J. MEYER I ENGINE July 10, 1934.

Filed June 15, 1931 .mMlTV INVENTOR.

Meyer I ATTORNE v Patented July 10, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,965,851 ENGINE Andre J. Meyer, Detroit,

tinental Motor Corporation, Detroit Mich corporation of Virginia Mich., assignor to Con- Application June 15, 1931, Serial No. 544,422 g 14. Claims. (01. 123-81) This invention refers to internal combustion engines and refers more particularly to engines of the sleeve valve type.

In the sleeve valve types of engines it is generally customary to provide a cylinder head for each cylinder of the engine, the cylinder head being of the re-entrant type in which theportion of the cylinderhead forming the combustion chamber depends Within the upper portion of the cylinder and is spaced therefrom to provide an annular recess or pocket which accommodates the movement of one or more sleeve valves. Difficulty has been experiencedin such structures in properly sealing the sleeve pocket against the escape of gases from the combustion. chamber resulting in loss of pressure and power and also resulting in theaccumulation of carbon, rust and other substances generally referredto assludge, to the general detriment of the engineand particularly those parts associated with the sleeve pocket.

It is an object of my invention to provide an. improved sleeve pocket structure which will .effectively over-come the aforesaid. difficulties. A further object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved sealing means for the sleeve pocket, which sealing means is capable of manufacture and assembly at relatively low cost and which willmaintain an efficient operation over long periods of use.

It is a further object of .my invention to provide an improved sealing structure for an engine of the. general type referred tohereinabove, .wherein by reason of a selection of metals and also by reason of the constructions hereinafter. more fully de: scribed, my improved sealingmeans will function in an improved way overa wide range of engin temperatures... y

- Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as this specification pro gresses, reference being made for purposes of illustration to-the accompanying drawing in'which:

Fig. 1 represents the vertical sectional view through a typical cylinder of the engine showing the sleeve pocket structure.

Fig. 2 is a like-view illustrating a fied form of my invention,

,Fig. 3 is a detail sectional enlarged view of the sleeve pocket structure shown in Fig. 1, and

. Fig. 4 is a detail view along the lines 4-4 of: Fig.3. I .l'n order to illustrate my invention I have shown a sleeve valve engine ofthe single sleeve type generally'known as the Burt-McCol lum engine in which" a singlesleeve usually operating between the piston;- and cylinder isgiven' a: combined axialslightly modireciprocation andoscillation by any suitable well known means whereby a point on the sleeve traces a closed curve path in performing the usual valving cycles of the engine. In the drawing reference character A represents the engine cylinder 66 block and 10 is one of the cylinders thereof, the cylinder being provided with the usual intake and exhaust ports 11 and 12 respectively, the usual intake and exhaust manifolds 13 and 1-4 being associated with the respective ports. Within cyle5 inder 10 is located the sleeve valve 1-5 having intake and exhaust ports 16 and 1-7 respectively for cooperation with the cylinder ports 11 and 12 as the sleeve is moved as aforesaid by any suitable actuating device such as illustrated at 18. 76 Within the sleeve 15 islocated the piston 19 adapted to'operate the connecting rod 20 which extends as usual to the engine crankshaft (not shown). It will be understood that the parts as thus far described form no part of my invention in themselves as these may be of any suitable construction and arrangement. For illustration it will be apparent that the features of my invention are readilyadaptable to engines having more than one sleeve or inconnection with engines of 3 6 the single sleeve type in which the sleeve is operated by a movement'other than the combined type of movement referred to above. 7

Reference character- B represents a structure adapted to close the cylinder, such structure: con 3'5 stituting a cylinder head having the generally cylindrical portion 21 depending within the upper end of the cylinder and spaced within the cylinder walls to form a sleeve pocket 22'- for acacia-- modating movement of the upper end of sleeve 9"6 valve 15'. According to my invention as illustrated in Fig. ;1,'-'- the portion 21 of the cylinder head B isprovided with an annular recess 23 near the upper end thereoflfthis recessbeing adapted to receive the inwardly extending annular shoulder 24 which is formed at the upperedge of a sealing element 25. The element 25 is preferably of cylindrical endless form circumferentially and is fitted closely in engagement around the exterior cylindrical walls of the cylinder head portion 21, '0 the seal ing element preferably engaging the cyl inder head under tension. In order to secure thistension: 1 heat the cylindrical element and place the: same under close fit on the cylinder head whereby when the sealing. element cools it will be under an initial tension resulting in a tight fit withthe cylinder head. The rib on shoulder 24' is preferably formedatter the" sealing element;- has been placed in position andthis shoulder is conveniently formed-by spinning the upper end of the sealing element into the recess 23. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noted that the sealing element extends downwardly below the lower edge of the cylinder head portion 21 whereby an annular portion 26 of the sealing element is exposed to the pressure developed in the combustion chamber 27. p Also in these figures the cylinder head portion 21 is provided with a series of axially spaced circumferential grooves 28 for the purpose of providing a labyrinth seal against escape of gases from the combustion chamber 2'7.

In the operation of the device as thus far described the scaling element 25 is fitted securely with the cylinder head portion 21 and forms a bearing for the sleeve valve 15. When explosion takes place in the combustion chamber 27 the pressure developed thereby will act against the portion 26 of the sealing element 25 tending to very slightly expand the same and prevent the escape of gases toward the sleeve pocket between the sleeve valve and sealing element 25. Since the latter element is engaged by shoulder 24 with the cylinder head portion 21 it will be apparent that there can be no escape of gases into the sleeve pocket between cylinder head portion 21 and sealing element 25. In order to further assist against a tendency for passage of gases and accumulation into the sleeve pocket I have provided a labyrinth structure or grooves 28. In order to prevent the sealing element 25 from being displaced circumierentially under the influence of the oscillatory component of the sleeve valve, I preferable provide the diametrically opposite points in the groove 23, a recess 29 extending inwardly of the groove and the shoulder portion 24 of the sealing element is deflected at 30 into the recess 29 thereby securing the sealing element against rotative displacement. Referring to Fig. 2 similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts as described in connection with the other figures of the drawing and it will be noted that in Fig. 2 the sealing element 17 does not extend below the effective lower edge of the portion.2l' of cylinder head B, since I have found that with such an arrangement as illustrated I have obtained very excellent and improved sealing and antisludge results. In Fig. 2 also, I have omitted the grooves 28 of Fig. 1 since in many cases these may be readily dispensed with in obtaining the objects of my invention.

As a further feature of my invention I have provided a construction which will effectively seal the sleeve pocket structure under varying conditions of temperature, thus by way of illustration I preferably formed the cylinder block A and cylinder head B of cast iron and the sleeve valve 15 of steel tubing. The sealing element 25 is preferably formed of brass which in addition to its excellent bearing characteristics with the sleeve valve provide the additional advantage of compensating for the diiferences in expansion between the cast iron cylinder head and steel sleeve. This feature of my invention is very important since it provides for efficient sealing of the sleeve pocket during the time when the engine is warming up and also prevents tendency for sludge accumulations at various conditions of temperature under which an engine is normally subjected.

j The present sealing element 25 is preferably rel- 1. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element associated with said structure subjected to the pressure developed during the engine power stroke for sealing said space, said element projecting below said structure, and means for supporting said sealing element in engagement with said valve means.

2. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, and a sealing element associated with said structure subjected to the pressure developed during the engine power stroke for sealing said space, said element being secured at its upper edge to said structure.

3. An engine or" the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, 2. cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, and means for supporting said element in engagement with said sleeve valve means, said element projecting below the cylinder head to provide an outwardly expanding portion subjected to pressure developed in the combustion chamber.

4. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said sealing element being fixed at its upper end and disposed in engagement with said sleeve valve means.

5. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means and disposed in engagement with said sleeve valve means, said sealing element being fixed at'its upper end and being free at its lower end.

6. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means and disposed in engagement with said sleeve valve means, said sealing element being fixed at its upper end and being free at its lower end, said lower end being exposed to the combustion chamber.

7. An engine of thesleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, and means for supporting said element in direct engagement with said sleeve valve means, said cylindrical element being continuous circumferentially.

8. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combinatioma cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said cylindrical element being continuous circumferentially and engaging the cylinder head under tension.

9. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said element being shrunk on said cylinder head.

10. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said cylinder head having a groove adjacent the upper edge of said element, said element having a rib seated in said groove.

11. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said head having a recess, said element having a portion thereof deflected into said recess to secure the element to the head.

12. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within said cylinder, sleeve valve means between the cylinder head and cylinder, and a cylindrical sealing element intermediate the cylinder head and sleeve valve means, said sealing element being secured at its upper edge and depending there- 7 from in engagement with the cylinder head but radially movable therefrom.

13. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder and relatively movable with respect to said structure, and a sealing element disposed directly intermediate said structure and said relatively movable valve means for sealing said space, said element being secured at its upper edge to said structure.

14. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, and a sealing element associated with said structure and disposed in said space in normal engagement with the head and in direct yielding engagement with said sleeve valve means, said sealing element having an inner face arranged to project beyond the inner extremities of said head and thereby being subjected to the pressure developed during the engine power stroke for sealing said space.

ANDRE J. MEYER. 

